Shock absorber



m. 26 9 1926.' 1,570,908 G. MERZ SHOCK ABSORBER Filed July v, 1925 2 snetsfsheet 2 /N VEN T01? body. The object of the invention is to providea shock absorber which'is strong and durable, which can not easily get out of order, `which can be readily applied to a vehicle, u hich contains only a few parts which can ybe cheaply manufactured and readily assembled and disassembled, and in which the Wearing parts are enclosed and protected from dirt and therefore capable of being kept thoroughly lubricated.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partly in section,of a portion of a vehicle showing one manner of applying the shock absorber thereto; Fig. 2 is avieW at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal .sectional view through the Working cylinder or casing of the devicegFig. 4 is a similar section on the plane indicated by the line 4-4, on

Fig; Figsf, 6 and 7 aretransverse sections talrenA respectively on the lines 5 5,

v6;-5 and I-U?, Fig. 3; Fig. `8 is a top View of the cylinder or casing; and Fig; 9 is a transverse section thereof on 'the line 9-9,

' Fig. S.

The Working parts of the device illustrated are enclosed ina casing 1, which has V a cylindrical bore and which is of such ex- 'f ternal contour that it can be mounted upon 'f a vsuitable part of the vehicle in a convenient manner. Mounted side by side in thecasing l are a Apairl of cooperating cani mein `vbers 2 and 3, the former of which is rotat- 'I able'on the longitudinal axis of the casing "but'axially immovable therein, while the latter is non-rotatable but axially movable.

` The contacting side faces of these cam inembers are provided with complementary cam :faces 4 which are spirals extending completely around each of the members and are indicated by a spiral line on Figs. 3 and 4.

fr llie ends of the spirals being united by longitudinal shoulders 5. 'lhe result iev that GOTTLWB HERZ, OF MCIKEESPGRT, PENNSYL'VNXA.

`Enr vavaria,ein corr SHOCK ABSORBEIR.

Aiipplication filed July 7, 1925. Serial No. 42,002.

the end faces of these vtwo cani members are in contact the entire Way around when said cams are in their closest approached positions. Externally the cam members are circular and have a good rotating iit in the cylindrical bore of the casing. Each cam member is provided with an axial hole through Which extends a guide rod 8, and in addition the member 2 has a cylindrical 05 axial sleeve 9 which rotatably lits` in a corresponding cylindrical recess in the member 3. Consequently these two members are guided rather accurately in their movements relative to each other.

The cain member 2 is rotated by means of an arm 10 extending radially therefrom and operated as hereinafter described. Endwise movement of member 2 is prevented by its bearing on a washer 11 which is backed by 75 a. ball bearing 12 seated in the cap 13 lwhich closes one end of the casing 1. This end of the casing 1 is provided with a longitudinal slot A1Ll which joins a circumferential slot 15 extending about half Way around the cas- 'ing a short distance from its end. The cani member 2 With its attached ouerating arm 1() is inserted in the casing y sliding itendwise therein, the arm 10 passing through the longitudinal slot 14 until it comes into 95 the plane of the circumferential slot'l, which latter slot permits said arm ltol have a radial movement throughsomewhat over The end cap 13 is provided With a` flange 16 which slips snugly over the end of 90 the casing and extends inwardly substantially to the outer edge of the circumferential slot 15. Said cap flange is provided with an inwardly projecting thickened portion 17 Which enters the longitudinal slot @5 14 andserves to prevent the end cap from turning on the casing.l The guide rod 8 is shown fixed rigidly to this end cap although such rigid connection is not `'absolutely necessary. Secured to the arm 10 is 100 a circular shield 18 which surrounds the casing 1 and covers the circumferential slot 15 toprevent the entrance of dirt at this f point.

The opposite end of the casing-is ltightly Y closed by means of a cap 19 which seats on the end of the casing and has apportion projecting into the casing. Thiscap is clamped in position by means of a nut, 20'on the outer end of the guide rod 8 which projects im through a hole in said cap. Tliiscap is fui'- ther provided with a projection 21 which enters a notch`22 in the said end ci the casing and thus holds this end against retation.

Interposed between 'the axially movable cam member 23 and the end cap l) is a strong helical spring 23, which is initially put iinder compression andfivhich becomes further .compressed when the cam member 2 is y it isA moving, and this, et course bis" member 3 Both rotated to move the longitudinally, as will be apparent. the outer face ot caiii .iiieiiiber the inner face ot' cap i9 are ioimed'ivith spiral seats, marked and respectively, for the ends of the spring 2?. lheseseats of course end in transverse r" y s. marked 26 on Ythe cam iiieniber d on the end capii), against which shoiiliieiI` the ends of the 4helical coil naturally ,abut Hence, any tendency of the cani member to rotate tends to put a torsional twist in the helical spring 23, but as this spring is very strong it effectively restrains rotation of the cam member 3, so that the movement of said member under the action of the rotary c am member 2, is Wholly in Aan atrial direction, putting the spring 23 under comiliression.

When the parts are assembled as described, it is manifest that ,i movement of the arm l() in one direction, iii rotate the cam 2, and cause its cam tace el the correspondingcam tace of member 3, and since the latter is held against rotary movement by spring l0 and end cap 19 fixed to the end of the casing. the only movement of which cam member capable is in a direction to put the springl 23 under compression. rlhis naturally causes heavy friction between the cam laces oit members 2 and 3 and tends to check the ii'otaiy movement of the member 2 in the direction' in which checks the movement of the part to which, arm lO is connected. Movement oi the `i 10 to rotate cam member 2 in the direction to coinpress spring 23 as described "rl -s place only on the rebound oi the body oli the vehicle, that is, when the vehicle expand, and therefore cheeks the siidde i 'ard movement of the vehicle body. illi springs are compressed, Ythe pull on the arm 10 is relieved, whereupon the epansion of spring 23, due te the slope ci the cam faces 4, returns the cam member position.

The device described can be attached to a vehicle in any desired As 'a matter of fact the particular place and manner of attachment will'depend son'ieivliat upon the place on the vehicle to which the shock absorber can best be applied. in aiving's one typical way of attaching te Le vehicle is shown. As here illusbated f cylindrical casing l has formed thereon or attached thereto a noircirciilar portion 29 tormiiig a Hatbottom face which is shown seated on to ride overv 2 to its originall imanes one of the springs 30 of the vehicle, 'and attached to said spring by means oit lll-bolts 3l. embracing the casing and secured below` th(4 spring by a retaining plate 32 and nuts 33. Different fastening means of course will be used in casethe device is to be fastened to some other part of the vehicle than the spring. The end of arm 10 will be connected to the other part of theA vehicle' (.in the illustrated instance to the body of they veliij cle) by anysuitable means, that shown being a flexible connector 34 (asmall cable or the like) secured to the end of arm 10 vand to a convenient attachment on lthe vehicle frame at 35. As all of these parts will be modified 80 according to the vehicle or the views of the iiiiiiiut'actiii'cr or user, they are not further described. v I

rllie device described can manifestly be made in rights and lefts, in order. torpermit them to be positioned in symmetrical relation on opposite sides or opposite ends of the vehicle. The casing l is provided with a. hole 36 for the admission of grease or other lubricant. i

The device described is of simple construction, has a minimum number of simple parts which are cheap to manufacture, which when assembled cannot readily get out of order,

and which can be readily taken apart when 05 desired, and all of the wearing parts are housed in a casing Whichcan be lilled with a lubricant up to the slot 15, thus permitting very thorough and effective lubrication, which tends to long life.

l claim:

l. A shock absorber comprising a casing, a cam member rotatably but axiallyl immovably mounted in said casing., a second cam-ls., member mounted for axial movement in the 10a casing, said cam members being provided with complementary contacting cam faces, whereby rotation of the first members moves the second axially, a fixed abutment in the outer end of the casing, a compression spring between said abutment and the axially mov.- able cam member and arranged-'toprevent rotation ot the latter, and means to rotate the iirst-named cam nieinber to thereby axially move the second and compress said spring.

2. A shock absorber comprising a casing liavinfr a. circular axial bore, a. cam member rotatably but adally immovably mounted in one end of said casing, a second cam member mounted for axial movement in said casing, h said members having com lementary contacting cam faces, Where y rotation of the first will move the second axially. a fixed abutmentI in the outer end, ot the casing, a helical compression spring between said abutment aiidini'slxdfxi' ally movable camfmember said abutmbiity and said axially movable mriibr being` each provided with a shoulder i'cngaged by the 13 'Lernens secured to and tightly closing one end of the casing, a cam member rotatably mounted in said casing and having endwise bearing against said cap, a second cam member mounted in said casing for axial movement, said cam members havingcomplementary contacting' cam faces whereby' rotation ot the lirst will move the second axially, a cap non-rotatably secured to and tivhtly closing the opposite end of said casing, a compression spring, between said last named cap and said axially movable cam member, the ends of said spring interloclred with said last named cap and said axially movable member block, and thereby preventing rotation of the axially movable member, and meansto rotate the first-named cam member to thereby move the second named member axially and compress said spring.

4. A shook absorber comprising a substantially cylindrical caslng provided at one end with a short longitudinal slot terminating in covering thelongitudinal slot in the easing,l

a circular shield secured to the said arm and covering the circumferential slotl in the casing, a. second cam member mounted m the casing for axial movement, saidvtvvo cam I members having. complementary contacting cam faces, whereby rotation of the irst will i move the second axially, an abutment 1n the outer end of said casing, and a compression spring between said abutment and said axially movable cam member arranged to be compressed when said cam member moves axially.

5. A shock absorber comprising a substantially cylindrical casing provided at one end with a short longitudinal slot terminating in a segmental circumferential slot, a cam member Iprovided with a radial arm inserted endwise into said casing and rotatable therev in, a cap secured to the end of said casing and provided with a proyection entering the longitudinal slot in the casing and beingl thereby held against rotation 'and serving as a seat to prevent endwise movement 6i the rotataue cam member, a flange on said cap cover n' the longitudinal slot in the casing, a or-cular shield secured to the said.

arm and covering the circumferential slot in the casing, a second cam member mounted in the casing for axial movement,v said two cam members having complementary oontacting cam faces, whereby rotation of the first will move the second axially, a cap tightly closing the outer endof the casing andl non-rotatably secured'thereto, and a helical compression spring between said cap and the axially movable cam member, said cap and said axially movable member being provided with shoulders abutting the ends ot' said spring, whereby the latter prevents rotation of the axially movable cam member.

ln testimony whereof, I sign my naine- GOTTLEB WHERE? 

